AIBU - Successful Interview & Salary Negotiation

[Newjob2024]

I applied for a job a few weeks ago and put on the job application what my current salary was. The recruitment consultant called me the following week and I was very honest that, since applying, I have been offered an internal promotion at work. She assured me that the salary was negotiable and that the Company were keen to meet with me.

I have subsequently had an informal chat with the MD and 2 interviews. I was offered the job this morning but the recruitment consultant said that, before they put an offer in writing, they want to know what my current salary is (basic + bonus) so they know what to offer. I went back and explained that I wouldn't be looking to move for the same as I would see this as a step up in my career. She then indicated that there wouldn't be any wriggle room in the salary range.

For context, the job offer was advertised as £40-£50k and I was seeking £54k. AIBU to have expected some salary negotiations when I raised this at the start and was told there would be room for negotiations? Does anyone have any tips on how I could professionally go back to not give my current salary away, as in my view it is irrelevant (and is very clear I am not on a lot less as I have all the skills and experience to do the role).

TIA :)

How do you think they establish tax code? They look at previous earnings. Sure don’t give it to them but you’re going to end up paying emergency tax. There’s no reason at all not to tell employer historical salaries. They will either pay what you want or they won’t.

@Bubble2024 The employer tax code notification comes from HMRC, not the employer. Any payroll processor worth their salt will apply it in the same month the employee joins, thus avoiding emergency tax.

I use an emergency tax code - HMRC will right to me pretty quickly with an updated code. Simple!

With my current role, I didn’t disclose my salary, nor did I give a figure that I’d be happy with, UNTIL they said the range it was in.

They said up to 60k, I asked for 65k, we settled on 63k. Since then, increased to 73k.

I was on 37k and would have probably asked for 45k, had I just told them what I was on and looking for - they were always prepared to pay more.

Ask them what have they benchmarked the role as, look at the market rate and you’ll know, then negotiate up.

I just say ‘I am looking for….’ When they ask my current salary. Its cheeky to ask

Because when you join they’ll see your p45 and know that you lied… so don’t do it. Much better just to negotiate what you want and walk away if they don’t meet your expectations.

IMO your current salary should be irrelevant the job should pay you what you are worth NOT what you are currently earning

As a recruiting manager you really should know your first paragraph is nonsense. Bullshitters can be hugely convincing, particularly men, and very capable people can be bad at coming up with examples in the pressure of an interview situtation, especially women. I thought we'd all realised by now that interviews are a poor way of assessing candidates, albeit usually the only option we have.

Okay

All jobs have asked for a P45 when I joined. Wouldn't it raise suspicions if you refuse to provide one?

In my profession, you can be dismissed and possibly even lose your professional licence if you lie on your CV.

Please don't lie about current salary. It says something quite bad about a person's integrity if they are prepared to lie or mislead about their current salary in order to bump up their pay. I would consider it akin to fraud.

If we had a new joiner lie on their salary, I would have to terminate the offer and report them to the regulator. Just refuse to disclose but don't lie or mislead.

This is irritating and put you in a difficult position from the off.

I'm so impressed with this! I'm in a field where this kind of jump is unfortunately commonplace due to large legacy companies not catching up to the market on salary, so interesting to hear how it works in practice.

I’ve just moved into the sector and had the same experience (plus the joy of government security clearance so any lies would have seen the job offer rescinded immediately).

They gave me what I wanted without haggling, plus benefits on top.

It’s probably also worth saying that this was a change of industry into a heavily male-dominated one who have well publicised diversity targets.

One of the interview questions was actually on this, and we had a long discussion about the gender pay gap, how women tend to sell themselves short etc and how male allies as hiring managers needed to recognise that.

So that all did probably contribute. I had also learnt my lesson from my 38k role where I didn’t negotiate and had a frustrating time with junior colleagues on more than me.

Your current salary isn't anything to do with what you're worth to them.

I got offered a job at the salary I initially thought I wanted (£90k when I was currently on £75k). They agreed. I got offered the job.

When I received the offer, based on advice from a truly excellent friend, I told them I had spoken to my mentors and others and decided that actually I was worth £100k. I was so nervous about saying this that my friend had to write the email for me. But she was right! They met me in the middle at £95k. £5k extra for sending an email!

If they value you, they value you. Doesn't matter what your current salary is. Disclose it, sure, certainly don't lie about it, but negotiate based on YOUR WORTH not whatever you're paid now. And go somewhere that recognizes it.

Ivy always inflated current salary when asked, by at least 10%. Civil Service, Bank, Local Govt .. nobody has ever said a word.

I recruit in the Civil Service now, I wouldn’t check what anyone said to that question

Just tell them your current salary is £competitive. That seems to be a valid number in recruitment!
But being honest you can just tell them it's private but you can input the salary you are looking for as your current salary if it helps things a required field within their system

if you inflated your salary you might be offered £££ subject to providing evidence of previously inflated salary. In that situation what would the liars do?

Could you say you won't negotiate lower than £54,000?

Why are you leaving? It sounds like you’re more valued where you are? Unless the other company want to give you 10k + to make the move- surely it’s not worth your while?

Can you say your overall package including bonus amounts to X? They aren't going to check if a bonus had been paid. You can't inflate too much but a package isn't just salary, it's all the extras.

I knew someone who was head hunted for a civil service role with a range e.g. 70-90k. They asked for £110k. Didn't hear back for a couple of months. Then they came back and said OK then! Good negotiating.

@lookwhatyoudidthere a few reasons I’ve started to look. I will stay unless the job is perfect, but this ‘promotion’ isn’t really that worthwhile!

Ask for the amount that will make the move worthwhile FOR YOU.
Be prepared to walk away.
You have the cushion of the internal promotion.
If they won't meet your expectations, take the internal promotion, and keep looking.
At the next successful interview, following your internal promotion, you will have a higher 'current' salary, so take it from there (upwards!).

You need to be very clear to your recruitment consultant that you will only except this to move as you have just been offered a promotion. No negotiation.

If they are good at their job this should be effectively communicated to the client and they should have made them aware what salary you were seeking before interview.